Deflector arrangement for single or double window laying, convertible table for swathers

ABSTRACT

A deflector arrangement for a transversely shiftable swath table assembly for windrower type harvester is comprised of two individually hinged overlying deflector blades at one outer end of the table assembly. The one deflector blade adjacent said end is used only for laying a single windrow and is inactive when laying a double windrow. The other deflector blade is normally spring biased away from said end of the table assembly in one position and the table assembly is provided with an actuating member adapted to move the other deflector blade against the end of the table assembly when the table assembly is shifted to the other position.

United States Patent [151 3,695,015

Twidale et al. 1 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] DEFLECTOR ARRANGENIENT FOR 3,343,3479/ 1967 Burrough et a1 ..56/181 Assignee: Mmsey-Fergusen IndustriesLimited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed: Sept. 7, 1971 Appl. No.:178,226

US. Cl. ..56/181, 56/192, 198/36 7 Int. Cl. ..A01d 43/00 Field of Search..56/181, 192, 11.2; 198/36 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSKirkpatrick et al ..56/181 Primary ExaminerAntonio F GuidaAttorney-Gerhardt, Greenlee & Farris [57] ABSTRACT A deflectorarrangement for a transversely shiftable swath table assembly forwindrower type harvester is comprised of two individually hingedoverlying deflector blades at one outer end of the table assembly. Theone deflector blade adjacent said end is used only for laying a singlewindrow and is inactive when laying a double windrow. The otherdeflector blade is normally spring biased away from said end of thetable assembly in one position and the table assembly is provided withan actuating member adapted to move the other deflector blade againstthe end of the table assembly when the table assembly is shifted to theother position.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures INVENTORS WILLIAM H. TWIDALE BY MARK K.BYRNES MMMMJM A TTO/QA/EVS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a harvesting machine of the windrower type and more inparticular to a harvesting machine having a shiftable convertible tableassembly for selective location of windrows relal0 tive to the machine.

In known harvesting machines of the windrower type the windroweradvances over a field of standing crop such as grain or hay for cuttingof the crop and depositing of the cut crop in windrows behind themachine for subsequent pick-up by a harvesting combine or the like.Conventionally, such windrower type harvesting machines, or swathers,include a header or table as sembly which has a reciprocating knifemechanism along its transverse leading edge over which the cut crop isdirected onto the table assembly. The table assembly is equipped withone or more conveyor means adapted to convey the cut crop to either sideof the table assembly for disposal through a side opening or to a centerarea in case of a center delivery type swather.

However, as is known, crop conditions, that is, thickness of the plantsin relation to any given field area, varies widely with different fieldsor even in the same field.

Thus, where the crop is relatively thin in relation to the field area, alight windrow is formed causing a waste in efficiency and capacity ofthe combine, which may be equipped to handle heavier windrows at fullcapacity. To overcome this drawback and to effectively utilize the fullcapacity of the combine, windrowers, or swathers, have been proposedadapted to lay double windrows, i.e., two windrows side by side, forsubsequent simultaneous pickup by the combine. These knowndouble-windrow-laying type of swathers usually employ transverselyshiftable and reversible conveyor means and crop dispersing mechanismassociated with the table of the machine such, that the crop willautomatically be dispersed to the left or right of the machine duringsuccessive passages of the machine across the field. However, seriousdifficulties have been encountered in known double-windrow-layingswathers due to the inability of effectively controlling side by sidepositioning of the pair of windrows and in the prevention of cut cropsbeing placed on the standing crop which, of course, is undesirable.Furthermore, in order to accommodate combines of varying pick-upcapacities, it is preferred to lay the double windrow of cut crops asclose together side by side as possible, leaving only a small spacebetween adjacent windrows necessary for effective and quick drying ofthe cut crop. This could not effectively be accomplished with knowndouble-windrow-laying swathers.

The present invention provides improved means to overcome theinefficiency and other disadvantages of prior art windrow layingharvesting machines by provision of dual conveyor means associated withthe header or table assembly of the machine and adapted to beselectively shifted simultaneously to either the right or left of themachine for alternate left or right discharge of the cut crop to laysingle side discharge windrows adjacent the standing crop or closelyspaced double windrows. Means are also provided to selectively shift thedivided conveyor means to opposite ends of the table assembly for centerdischarge of the cut crop in a single windrow where standing cropconditions permit.

Primarily, improved deflector means are provided along side the tableassembly which are effective on respective positioning of the conveyormeans or prevent placing of cut crop onto the standing crop duringlaying of side discharge windrows or double windrows side-by-side.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of thepresent invention to provide improved means for a windrower typeharvesting machine having a divided reversible conveyor meansselectively shiftable from left to right or vice versa for alternateleft or right discharge of cut crop to lay side discharge windrowsadjacent the standing crop or closely spaced double windrows and whichcan also be used for alternatively separating movement towards oppositeends of the table to lay a center delivery single windrow.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofdeflector means of improved structure to effectively prevent placing ofcut crop on top of standing crop when laying a windrow adjacent thestanding crop.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of means foroperatively interconnecting the present improved deflector means withmechanisms associated with the shiftable conveyor means such as to placethe improved deflector means of the present invention in operative orinoperative position in response to the shifted position of the conveyormeans.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision ofimproved deflector means, selectively operative in response topositioning of the conveyor means and of such structure as not tointerfere with proper functioning of the machine and which will notbecome clogged during operation.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the present inventionwill become more fully apparent by the following detailed descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the attached drawings illustrating apreferred embodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustratepreferred embodiment of invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a windrow type harvestingmachine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration representing the windrow typeharvesting machine of FIG. 1 at two successive turns over the crop fieldto lay a double windrow in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another schematic illustration illustrating the windrower typeharvesting machine of FIG. 1 in the operation of laying a centerdelivery type single windrow in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the table portion of the harvesting machinein FIG. 1 with parts thereof broken away and shown in phantom lines forclarity of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a right hand side view of the table mechanism shown in FIG. 4and more clearly illustrating the arrangement of the improved deflectormeans;

FIG. 6 is a cross section through the table and deflector mechanismshown in FIG. 5 as seen along lines 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating an alternate position ofthe deflector mechanism shown therein; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of the pivoted hingeattachment for the present improved deflector means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 in thedrawings there is illustrated a windrower type harvesting machinegenerally indicated at 10 and including a propelling means 12 and aheader 13 forwardly thereof. Propelling means 12 comprises a platform 14which carries an operator station 16 and a power source such as anengine 18. Platform 14 is supported on a pair of opposite front wheels20 and 22 respectively and a rear caster wheel 24.

The header 13 is comprised of a table assembly 26 mounted on theplatform 14 by conventional means and adjustable relative to the ground.Table assembly 26 has a transverse leading edge defined by areciprocating knife 28. The reciprocating knife 28 is confined between apair of opposite side end dividers 30 and 32 respectively which areattached to the table assembly 26. The distance between the dividers 30and 32 defines the width of the swath being cut by the reciprocatingknife 28, as is known.

Suspended above the table assembly 26 is a rotating reel 34 which isrotatable by conventional drive means such as sprocket and chainarrangement, or the like 36. Reel 34, as is known, is adapted to sweepthe standing crop over the reciprocating knife 28 and may beindividually adjustable relative to table assembly 26 and in response tostanding crop conditions.

Table assembly 26, as more clearly indicated in FIGS. 2 to 4, includes aframe 38 which supports a pair of individual conveyors 40 and 42respectively which are conjointly or independently operable for shiftingmovement within the frame 38 in the table assembly 26. The particulardetails and drive arrangement for conveyor means 40, 42 do not form apart of the present invention and are thus not illustrated. Suffice itto say that, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, conveyor means 40, 42 maybe shifted conjointly towards the left of the machine (in the directionof travel) to convey the cut crop from the left to a right side opening44, as seen in the bottom illustration in FIG. 2 or, conversely, may beshifted from the left to the right, in direction of travel, and theirdirection of movement may be reversed to move the cut crop from theright to the left of the machine through an opposite side opening 46, as

seen in the top illustration in FIG. 2. Alternately, as seen in FIG. 3,conveyor means 40, 42 may be shifted apart towards opposite ends of thetable assembly 26 and their direction of movement may be oppositelyreversed so as to shift the cut crop from the ends of the table assemblytowards the center of the table assembly and through a center opening48.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 8, the right side of the table assembly 26as seen in the direction of travel of the machine is provided with adeflector assembly 50 which include a first deflector member 52extending laterally alongside the outer end of table assembly 26adjacent and inwardly of the divider 30. As most clearly seen in FIG. 5,deflector blade 52 is suspended downwardly from an inclined supportmember 54 of table frame 38 and is hingedly attached thereto by means ofcurled-over bead portion 56 and retained by means of a clamp member 58which is secured to support member 54 by means of fasteners 60, as mostclearly shown in FIG. 8. Deflector blade 52 is of relatively largedimension and extends downwardly towards the ground and is providedalong its lower end with an angularily offset edge portion 62.

Deflector assembly 50 includes a second deflector blade 64 ofsubstantially smaller dimension thandeflector blade 52. Deflector blade64 is arranged in parallel, overlying relationship to deflector blade 52and is similarly hinged to support member 54 by means of a curled-overrim or bead portion 66 which is curled around bead portion 56 ofdeflector blade 52, as seen in FIG. 8, forretainment by the same clampassembly 58. Thus, both deflector blades 52 and 64 are pivotal around acommon pivot point. The lower edge of second deflector blade 64 issimilarly provided with an angularly offset portion 68 for a purpose toappear.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the second deflector blade 64carries a bracket 70 attached to the rear thereof which projects throughan aperture 72 provided in the first deflector blade 52. Bracket 70provides a stop member for second deflector blade 64 and is adapted toabut against the side of support member 54 in one position of thedeflector assembly, as shown in FIG. 7, to thereby separate deflectorblade 64 from deflector blade 52 in response to the shifted position ofthe table assembly 26, as will be more fully explained hereafter.

Deflector blade 52 is normally spring biased away from the supportmember 54 of frame 38 in an inwardly upwardly directed position as shownin FIG. 6 by means of an extension spring 74. Extension spring 74 isarranged around a rod 76 which is pivotally attached to a bracket 78extending from frame member 54. The other end or rod 76 freely extendsthrough a pivotal socket 80 which is secured to a bracket 82 at thelower rear end of deflector blade 52. The end of rod 76 is preventedagainst separation from pivot socket 80 by means of a cotter pin or thelike 84. The upper end of rod 76 is provided with a stationary springretainer 86 to thereby retain compression spring 74 between socket 80and retainer 86. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, by means of expansionof spring 74 deflector blade 52 is pivoted away from frame supportmember 54 in an inwardly upwardly directed position and in whichdeflector blade 64 is caused to lie flat on the upper portion ofdeflector blade 52. In this position, the stop bracket 70 freely extendsthrough the aperture 72 in deflector blade 52 and into the space betweenthe deflector blade and the frame support member 54 by means to bedescribed hereafter. In this position spring 74 will be compressedbetween the pivot socket 80 and the upper spring retainer 86 whereas thelower end of rod 76 is caused to slide through the socket 80. The seconddeflector blade 64, in the position shown in FIG. 7, is maintained in anangularly offset position relative to deflector blade 52 by means ofabutment of stop bracket 70 against the side of frame support member 54.

Means associated with the table assembly 26 and deflector blade 52 areprovided to move the deflector blade assembly around pivot 56-58 fromthe position of FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7. These meansinclude an actuating member 88 operably connected to the conveyor means40 to be shiftable therewith. Actuating member 88 extends a distanceoutwardly of conveyor 40 and comprises a generally hollow frame memberhaving a closed outer end 90. The front side of deflector blade 52 isprovided with an abutment member 92 in the form of a block attached tothe deflector blade 52 by means of fasteners 94 which may simultaneouslyserve for attachment of bracket 82 to the rear of deflector blade 52.The block 92, which may be of wood or similar noise and shock reducingmaterial, has a convex outer surface 96 which is in contact with theclosed end 90 of actuating member 88 of the table assembly.

When table assembly 26, respectively conveyor means 40-42, is shifted tothe left of the machine in the direction of travel as shown at the rightin FIG. 2, the expansible force of spring 74 causes the deflector blade52 to be moved away from frame support member 54 until block 92 abutsagainst the end 90 of actuating member 88 of the table assembly. Thisposition of the deflector assembly is shown in FIG. 6.

As the conveyor means 40-42 are shifted from the left to the right,i.e., to the position shown at the left in FIG. 2, the actuating member88 which is connected to the conveyor means is operative, due to itsabutment against block 92, to move deflector blade 52 against framesupport 54 thereby compressing spring 74. This causes deflector blade 64to separate from deflector blade 52 by means of abutment of stop bracket70 against the outside of frame support member 54.

With reference to the illustration in FIG. 3 when the conveyor means40-42 are shifted away from each other towards opposite ends of thetable assembly, the deflector blade assembly 50 will be moved to thesame position as that shown in FIG. 7 due to conveyor means 40 beingshifted to the right of the machine, the same as in the leftillustration in FIG. 2.

Upon shifting of conveyor means 40 alone or conjointly with conveyormeans 42 towards the right of the table assembly, in the direction oftravel, actuating member 88 is caused to engage an alignment member 98in the form of a pin which is attached to a side member 55 of the frame38 for extension therefrom. The stationary alignment pin 98 is adaptedto extend through an aperture (not shown) provided iri deflector blade52 by movement of deflector blade 52 towards frame support 54.Subsequently, alignment pin 98 is caused to extend through an aperture100 provided in the closed outer end 90 of actuating member 88 tothereby align and retain actuating member 88 in aligned positionrelative to the frame 38 to prevent misalignment of the table assemblyand subsequent noise and wear. This arrangement, however, may beoptional and can be dispensed within certain other applications.

In operation of the device and with reference to the diagram in FIG. 2,the windrower 10 of the present invention is advanced across the fieldof standing grain G first in a position to discharge the cut crop at theright side of the machine to law a windrow W along-side the right frontwheel 22 as shown at the right in FIG. 2 and closely adjacent thestanding crop infield G. To accomplish this, the conveyor means 40-42are conjointly shifted transversely across the table assembly 26 towardsthe left as seen in the direction of travel. The direction of movementof the conveyors in this instance is from left to right towards theright side opening 46 from which the cut crop is discharged to form awindrow W. In this position of the table assembly 26, deflector blade 52will be in the position as shown in FIG. 6 by means of extension of coilspring 74. In this position of the deflector Blade 52 the angularlydisposed bottom edge portion 62 effectively deflects the cut crop awayfrom the standing crop to form a first windrow W, spaced a smalldistance S from the standing crop in field G to permit the left divider32 to move therealong parallel to first windrow W while at the same timepreventing divider 32 from moving into the first windrow upon apreceeding passage of windrower 10 across field G, as shown at the leftin FIG. 2.

Upon subsequent parallel return passage of windrower 10 across thefiled, the conveyor means 40-42 are then shifted from the left to theright of the table assembly, as shown in the left illustration of FIG.2, and the movement of the conveyor means is reversed to discharge thecut crop through the left side opening 46 to form an adjacent windrow Walong the left front wheel 22 of the windrower. As will be noted, thetwo windrows W will be closely adjacent and parallel to each other withonly a small space S between them to facilitate drying of the cut crop,this space being provided by the divider 32.

The foregoing operations can then be subsequently repeated on successiveturns of the windrower 10 across the field G to lay a plurality ofclosely spaced double windrows for subsequent simultaneous pick up by acombine.

With reference to FIG. 2, in the second movement of the windrower 10across the field G, at the left in F IG. 2, deflector member 52 is ininactive position, as shown in FIG. 7, due to the shifting of theconveyor means 40-42 from the left to the right of the table assembly.By this, the deflector member 52 is moved against frame support member54 by means of actuating member 88 as previously explained. In thisposition, the angularly offset second deflector member 64 will beoperative to effectively guide the cut crop away from the standing cropand onto the conveyor means 40-42.

With reference to the diagram in FIG. 3, which illus trates laying of asingle windrow in view of a heavier standing of crop in field G,conveyor means 42 is separated from conveyor means 40 and shifted to theopposite side of table assembly 26 and its direction of movement isreversed opposite to that of conveyor means 40. In this position ofconveyor means 40-42, center opening 48 is exposed through which the cutcrop is delivered from opposite ends by opposite movement of conveyormeans 40-42 to lay a single center discharge windrow W. Here likewise,deflector member 52 is in inactive position, as in FIG. 7, sinceconveyor means 40 is shifted to the right of the table assembly andangularly offset second deflector means 64 is active to guide the cutcrop away from the standing crop and onto the conveyor means 40.

Evidently, since the cut crop is discharged at the center or side of themachine which is remote from the standing crop, it is only necessary toguide the cut crop onto the conveyor means, which is done by the seconddeflector blade 64.

Upon successive passages of windrower 10 across the field G and parallelto any preceding single windrow W a plurality of single windrows can belaid parallel to each other but a substantial distance apart forindividual pick up by a combine.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure that the windrowermachine of the present invention is effectively adaptable for laying ofdouble windrows in such a fashion that a pair of windrows are closelyspaced adjacent each other to accommodate combines of varying pick upwidth capacities.

Similarly, by provision of the present improved deflector means, at thestanding crop side of the windrower, the cut crop is effectivelydiverted away from the standing crop to be gathered in a preciselycontrolled windrow behind the machine.

Although the present invention has been described by means of apreferred embodiment it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications in detail and arrangement can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and essential characteristics of the inventionas defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Deflector arrangement for windrower type harvester having a tableassembly including a table frame and a transversely shiftable cropreceiving and delivering assembly adaptable to deliver cut cropselectively toward either end of the table assembly for disposal inwindrows behind said harvester, said deflector arrangement comprising incombination a first deflector member hingedly attached to the tableframe adjacent one outer end of said table assembly a second deflectormember underlying said first deflector member and similarly hingedlysupported on said table frame; resilient means between said table frameand said second deflector member to normally retain said seconddeflector member in a first position away from the outer end of saidtable assembly, said table assembly having means movable therewith andadapted to move said second deflector member into a second positiontowards said one outer end of said table assembly, means associated withsaid first deflector member operative to separate said first deflectormember from said second deflector member when the second deflectormember is moved into its second position, and said crop receiving anddelivery assembly comprising conveyor means transversely shiftable inopposite direction into a first position towards that end of said tableassembly opposite said deflector members standing crop.

2. Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 1, said first and seconddeflector members each comprising a deflector blade angularly extendingfrom said frame in a direction laterally across one outer end of saidtable assembly; said means separating said first deflector blade fromsaid second deflector blade and said frame comprisin a top bracketattached to said first deflector blade or ree extension through anopening m said second deflector blade and alternate selective abutmentagainst said table frame in the second position of 1 said seconddeflector member.

3. Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 1, in which said resilientmeans comprises spring.

4. Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 1, said second deflectormember being provided with an abutment at one side thereof inwardly ofsaid table assembly; said means adapted to move said second deflectortowards said one outer end of said table as sembly comprising anactuating member associated with said conveyor means and having an outerend defining a contact surface for engagement with said abutment to movesaid second deflector member towards said one outer end of said tableassembly upon shifting of said conveyor means into said second position;said abutment having a convex outer surface for rolling contact uponsaid outer end contact surface of said actuating member.

5. Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 4, said outer end of saidactuating member having an aperture; said table frame being providedwith an alignment member extending outwardly therefrom; said seconddeflector member being provided with an opening adjacent said abutment;said alignment member comprising a pin for extension through saidopening of said second deflector member and into said aperture of saidouter end of said actuating member upon movement of said seconddeflector member towards said one end of said table assembly to therebylock said second deflector member to said table frame and to saidconveyor means.

6. Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 1, said first and seconddeflector members being hingedly attached to said table frame around acommon fixed pivot connection.

1. Deflector arrangement for windrower type harvester having a tableassembly including a table frame and a transversely shiftable cropreceiving and delivering assembly adaptable to deliver cut cropselectively toward either end of the table assembly for disposal inwindrows behind said harvester, said deflector arrangement comprising incombination a first deflector member hingedly attached to the tableframe adjacent one outer end of said table assembly a second deflectormember underlying said first deflector member and similarly hingedlysupported on said table frame; resilient means between said table frameand said second deflector member to normally retain said seconddeflector member in a first position away from the outer end of saidtable assembly, said table assembly having means movable therewith andadapted to move said second deflector member into a second positiontowards said one outer end of said table assembly, means associated withsaid first deflector member operative to separate said first deflectormember from said second deflector member when the second deflectormember is moved into its second position, and said crop receiving anddelivery assembly comprising conveyor means transversely shiftable inopposite direction into a first position towards that end of said tableassembly opposite said deflector members for laying a first windrow andinto a second position towards the end of the table assembly where saiddeflector members are located for laying a second windrow; said seconddeflector member in said second position of said crop receiving anddelivery assembly being effective to divert the cut crop away from thestanding crop.
 2. Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 1, saiDfirst and second deflector members each comprising a deflector bladeangularly extending from said frame in a direction laterally across oneouter end of said table assembly; said means separating said firstdeflector blade from said second deflector blade and said framecomprising a stop bracket attached to said first deflector blade forfree extension through an opening in said second deflector blade andalternate selective abutment against said table frame in the secondposition of said second deflector member.
 3. Deflector arrangement asdefined in claim 1, in which said resilient means comprises spring. 4.Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 1, said second deflectormember being provided with an abutment at one side thereof inwardly ofsaid table assembly; said means adapted to move said second deflectortowards said one outer end of said table assembly comprising anactuating member associated with said conveyor means and having an outerend defining a contact surface for engagement with said abutment to movesaid second deflector member towards said one outer end of said tableassembly upon shifting of said conveyor means into said second position;said abutment having a convex outer surface for rolling contact uponsaid outer end contact surface of said actuating member.
 5. Deflectorarrangement as defined in claim 4, said outer end of said actuatingmember having an aperture; said table frame being provided with analignment member extending outwardly therefrom; said second deflectormember being provided with an opening adjacent said abutment; saidalignment member comprising a pin for extension through said opening ofsaid second deflector member and into said aperture of said outer end ofsaid actuating member upon movement of said second deflector membertowards said one end of said table assembly to thereby lock said seconddeflector member to said table frame and to said conveyor means. 6.Deflector arrangement as defined in claim 1, said first and seconddeflector members being hingedly attached to said table frame around acommon fixed pivot connection.